William Ellery ChanningWilliam Ellery Channing, (1780-1842) American Unitarian preacher

William Ellery Channing Quote

“Progress, the growth of power, is the end and boon of liberty; and, without this, a people may have the name, but want the substance and spirit of freedom.”

William Ellery ChanningWilliam Ellery Channing
~ William Ellery Channing


Ratings and Comments


Mike, Norwalk

Power is not the end or boon of liberty, the substance or spirit of freedom but simply, one of the derivatives thereof. To progress in liberty and freedom is to harmonize with inalienable rights, law, and justice..

Anon
  • Reply
Anon    3/19/10

The more liberty that rings throughout the land, the more power an individual has over his own life. Using this power in a proper way so as not to interfere with another would and should be the end of the power within each of us or in another word, progress.

jim k, Austin

Mike and Anon summed it up pretty well.

E Archer, NYC

Sounds more like a 'progressive' excuse for concentrating power in the name of liberty.

Ken, Allyn, WA

I suppose it depends on what "progress" one is talking about. The growth of power in the hands of the few self-proclaimed elite is the bane of liberty, not it's boon; but it certainly may be the literal "end" of liberty.

aa, hb
  • Reply
    aa, hb    3/20/10

    Right now it appears the to be the end...just read the plan...worrisome. A tv program on China was just viewed and when the children were interviewed at their English class the interviewer asked why they were learning English and she said because they would own America in her lifetime and her gov said it would be good to know. Liberty...is in us, but will it be a right in 3 days?

    RBESRQ
    • Reply
    RBESRQ    3/20/10

    Liberty is absolute, untarnished by man's simple excuses for freedom and rights. Progress is subjective, one man's progress is anothers regression. And, power corrupts absolutely. And, sounds far more like an excuse for the far-right and religious fundamentalism for concentrating power in the name of Liberty.

    Anon
    • Reply
      Anon    3/21/10

      RBESRQ. It's a good thing you believe liberty is just a matter of opinion because opinions are like a**holes in that everbody has one. Strange though that you would say liberty is absolute. Seems to me that this description is not a matter of opinion but an absolute fact. Trying to have it both ways?

      @

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